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Int'l Organizations & UN News #5/2024

Amy Younger - Tuesday, February 20, 2024
 General   Events   IO/UNS Newsletter 

 International Organizations and UN News #5/2024 - February 20, 2024

Dear IO/UNS Community, 

This week, we will be holding our annual International Organizations & United Nations Roundtable Conversations Networking Event. This will be an exciting opportunity to network with staff members from a range of international organizations. Tickets are sold out but you can put yourself on the waitlist. We hope to see lots of you there! We also have a new interesting piece published on our Multilateralism in Action blog, titled "When Evidence Meets Power: Uncovering the Politics of Evaluation in the United Nations" by Vytautas Jankauskas and Steffen Eckhard, more details on this below. 

In this newsletter, you will find: 

  • International Organizations News
  • What We're Listening To: Defying Gender Norms in Peacekeeping
  • IO/UNS Student Spotlight
  • New MiA Blog Post: When Evidence Meets Power: Uncovering the Politics of Evaluation in the United Nations
  • Events at SIPA and Beyond
  • Internship Opportunities

Daniel, Laura, Amy & Akmaral
IO/UNS Specialization Team

**Please note this message is clipped. You can open the message in a new browser to see full event and internship listings.

  • UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke to world leaders at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, stating that if countries fulfilled their obligations under the UN Charter, every person on earth would live in peace and dignity. However, governments are ignoring these commitments and millions of civilians are paying a terrible price, with record numbers forced to flee. He also spoke of the need for peace in Ukraine and Gaza and pointed to his New Agenda for Peace, launched last July, which aims to update global collective security systems through what he has called “a more networked and inclusive multilateralism”. Read more here.
  • Despite unprecedented challenges, the UN Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) continues to provide lifesaving supplies and services to more than 1.5 million displaced people in southern Gaza. Agency employees and volunteers at the UNRWA-affiliated Deir Al-Balah Preparatory School in central Gaza said that despite difficult conditions restricting the movement of workers at many international aid organizations, they continue preparing and distributing food rations. Meanwhile agency director in Lebanon warned that UNRWA will ‘come to a halt’ in March due to the impact of immediate cuts to funding.

  • South Africa says it has asked the ICJ to consider whether Israel’s plan to extend its offensive in the Gaza Strip into the densely populated southern city of Rafah requires additional emergency measures to protect Palestinians. Meanwhile, UN emergency relief chief Martin Griffiths said on Tuesday that an all-out Israeli invasion of Rafah could force the closure of the aid lifeline from Rafah, but he reaffirmed "we will never leave the people of Gaza”.

  • A UN report finds that more than a fifth of the world’s migratory species are at risk of extinction. The first-ever report from the U.N. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals found that 44% of migratory species have seen their numbers decline and 22% could disappear altogether due largely to climate change and human encroachment.
  • Staff of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Venezuela were given 72 hours to “abandon” the country. A United Nations agency that monitors and defends human rights, they have been ordered to leave Venezuela by the government of President Nicolás Maduro, after the disappearance of Rocio San Miguel, a prominent security expert and human rights advocate. Several UN entities had expressed concern about the arrest. Read more here.

  • On February 18-19, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres convened a meeting on Afghanistan in Doha to discuss the ongoing humanitarian and human rights crises and the recent report on a way forward by UN Special Coordinator for Afghanistan Feridun Sinirlioğlu. The Secretary-General announced at a conference on Day 2 that he is starting consultations toward appointing a UN envoy to coordinate engagement between Kabul and the international community. Read more here.

Seeking Peace - Defying Gender Norms in Peacekeeping

The United Nations is the largest peacekeeping body in the world. In this episode, we explore the dynamic and interconnected world of peacekeeping. You’ll hear from uniformed women working in different positions in UN peacekeeping missions – one works in corrections and another serves in military affairs. These women discuss the technical nature of their jobs and reveal what it is like to work in male dominated fields where respect can be difficult to come by. They will help us understand why the inclusion of women is imperative for the success of peacekeeping operations.

Find the podcast here, SoundCloud, or on  PodBean, Apple Podcasts and Audible.  

IO/UNS Student Spotlight

This week we are excited to introduce  Ariana Ames (MIA, HRHP 2024). 

Growing up along the US-Mexico border in both Mexico and the United States, Ariana witnessed the challenges faced by migrants, shaping her passion for multilateralism and global governance. Observing the inhumane conditions and struggles of those seeking a better life was deeply impactful and coming from a family of immigrants, Ariana understands the complexities of the migration process. Because of these experiences, she believes there must be a collaborative effort on an international scale to address these issues. Her interest is mainly in advocating for policies prioritizing human rights and creating sustainable solutions for displaced populations. Ariana hopes to contribute to a more compassionate global governance framework addressing the root causes of migration and fostering international cooperation.

You can find Ariana on social media under @ Ariana_Ames.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We'd like to shine a light on each amazing member of our IO/UNS family. Please fill out our questionnaire here to be in next week's student spotlight. 

Events at SIPA & Beyond

In their think-piece When Evidence Meets Power: Uncovering the Politics of Evaluation in the United Nations, professors Vytautas Jankauskas and Steffen Eckhard delve into the intricacies of the evaluation processes within international organizations. Drawing on their new book, The Politics of Evaluation in International Organizations (Oxford University Press, 2023) the authors argue that evaluation is not a value-free, purely technocratic endeavor. Instead, to fully unleash the potential of evaluation, we must confront the undeniable political nature that underpins this vital process. By acknowledging the political dimensions at play, we can deliberately design evaluation systems to minimize political influences, thereby enhancing their independence. Evaluation reports are not immune to biases and manipulation, often reflecting the interests of influential stakeholders. However, by advocating for institutional designs that balance control between member states and management of international organizations, alongside clearer guidelines for recommendation formulation, Jankauskas and Eckhard argue that we can foster more impartial and effective evaluation systems. Embracing these strategies will not only enhance the credibility and utility of evaluation reports but also bolster evidence-based policymaking, ultimately advancing the UN's mission towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Read the full think-piece here and feel free to engage with this think-piece's announcements on BlueSky, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Events at SIPA & Beyond

Spotlighted Events

TODAY 20 February | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Climate Change, Science Based Targets, and the Role of Business

IAB 402

RSVP | EVENT INFO

22 February | 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Asylum Seekers: A Story of Civil and Human Rights

Pulitzer Hall

RSVP | EVENT INFO

23 February | 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM
International Organizations & United Nations Roundtable Conversations (Networking Event)

IAB 1501

RSVP | EVENT INFO

Climate Change, Science Based Targets, and the Role of Business
TODAY 20 February, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
IAB 402

Lila Karbassi is the UN Permanent Advisor to the SBTi Executive Board, and Senior Programme Officer of Science-Based Target Setting at the United Nations Global Compact. Her work supports the UN’s agenda to deliver a resilient net-zero future and drive business ambition towards the achievement of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Currently serving as the UN Permanent Advisor to the Executive Board of the Science-based Target Initiative (SBTi), she acts as a liaison between the SBTi and the UN Global Compact. Ms. Karbassi has been instrumental to the work of the UN Global Compact since 2005 and lead numerous successful programmes to position leading businesses on the UN agenda. Between 2017 and 2022, she served as the Chief of Programmes overseeing the initiative’s work on human rights, labour rights, the environment, anti-corruption, reporting and finance.

RSVP here.

Asylum Seekers: A Story of Civil and Human Rights
22 February, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Pulitzer Hall

The Lipman Center's Director Robe Imbriano welcomes you to a conversation and presentation about the civil and human rights of asylum seekers. What's missing from the national conversation about asylum seekers, and how can we as journalists better cover these issues?

RSVP here.

International Organizations & United Nations Roundtable Conversations (Networking Event) 
23 February, 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM
IAB 1501

Building on the success of the previous years' event, this year's International Organizations & United Nations Roundtable Conversations gives students the opportunity to speak with 20+ staff members from a range of international organizations in intimate small group discussions. Unlike other networking events, the roundtable conversation format will ensure that students have significant facetime with three IO officials, opening the door for meaningful relationship building. About 6-8 students will share a roundtable with one of our featured experts to discuss their work and experiences on the role of international organizations to foster development, cooperation, peace, human rights, climate change, and prosperity. Students will spend 30min each at three roundtables to enable them to have a range of conversations. After 3 rounds of structured roundtables, all participants are invited to join the reception on the 15th floor that allows participants to connect with other experts.

***Please ensure you only register for 1 ticket. Also note that the roundtable tickets count toward the reception; therefore, please do not register for a reception ticket if you have registered for a roundtable ticket. Thank you**

RSVP here.

Department of State Employer Session
26 February, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
IAB 413

This information session is a chance to hear about the process to become a Foreign Service Officer (FSO), the different tracks and the schedule for registering and taking the FSOT.

Kyla Brooke is a career Foreign Service Officer with over sixteen years of experience in a wide variety of areas within the U.S. Department of State.  

RSVP here.

HRHP Professional Development Series - Research and Reporting
29 February, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
IAB 801

The HRHP PD Series continues with a workshop led by Professor Andrew Heinrich, who will provide students with an overview on how to propose a research design; describe and implement various human rights research methodologies; compare and contrast the different kinds of human rights research and reporting; and write about human rights findings in a clear, concise and compelling manner.

RSVP here.

The UNIDIR's 2024 Cyber Stability Conference (CS24) Cyber Stability Conference
29 February- 1 March 2024
UN Headquarters - In person and Online 

The UNIDIR's 2024 Cyber Stability Conference (CS24) on "Unpacking Cyber Threats to International Peace and Security". CS24 will focus on three key threat dimensions: technology, type of attacks and threat actors. Each dimension will be discussed in-depth from a technical perspective as well as in relation to how it may impact the implementation of the framework of responsible State behaviour in cyberspace.

RSVP here.

SIPA Speaks! Navigating the Complexities of Asylum and Migration: An Insider's Perspective
1 March, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
1512 IAB

Maria Thornton (MPA), a seasoned expert in asylum and migration policy, will share her frontline experiences from her tenure as an EU asylum officer. Her work, spanning across critical cases in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and Eritrea, offers her a unique perspective on the intricacies and emotional challenges of this field. Maria's diverse roles, from adjudicating asylum claims to retrials in deportation centers, underscore the multifaceted nature of migration issues. With a background rooted in Bosnian and Croatian heritage, raised in Sweden, and educated at CUNY as a first-generation student, Maria's journey informs her empathetic approach to migration policy. Her talk will offer a realistic, yet hopeful overview of western asylum practices and the emotional resilience required to navigate them.

RSVP here.

Most SIPA students are not only required to participate in a specialization-related internship, UN-related internships are often critical to further develop skills and knowledge, build a hireable CV, and create or expand a meaningful professional network. Feel free to consult this document for tips and tricks for Sourcing Internships.

Paid SIPA Fellowship with UNHCR: Refugees, IDPs & Development
Deadline: March 4

Please apply for the SIPA fellowship with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). From June 1st through November 30, 2023, the SIPA Fellow will support UNHCR's engagement and cooperation with development agencies in forced displacement contexts. The fellow will receive a modest stipend. The fellowship will be full-time during the summer months and part-time during the fall semester. During the summer, the fellowship will be in-person at UNHCR headquarters in Geneva, while it will continue remotely during the Fall. Due to funding requirements, the fellowship is limited to SIPA students enrolled in the summer and fall of 2024

More information and apply here

SIPA International Organizations Internship Stipend
Deadline: April 15

Please apply for a SIPA International Organizations Internship Stipend. We will support a few self-organized internships at international organizations that take place (or begin) in the summer of 2024. Internships must be unpaid, and in-principle should be full-time. To apply, you must have an official acceptance letter. Due to funding requirements, the fellowship is limited to SIPA students enrolled in the summer and fall of 2024. 

Apply here

Political Affairs Intern
Application Deadline: 21 February 2024
Location: New York

The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) is seeking for qualified interns for a maximum internship of 6 months, depending on the needs of UNODA and the willingness of applicant. UNODA advises and assists the Secretary-General in the discharge of his responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations and the implements mandates given by the General Assembly, the Security Council and other organs of the United Nations system, in the area of disarmament and related security. For more information, please refer to: .https://disarmament.unoda.org/ This internship is unpaid and is designed to be full-time and in-person at the New York duty station. The manager may allow part-time, remote or hybrid internships at the request of the successful candidate. The Intern, under the supervision of a primary supervisor, shall be assigned to the Regional Disarmament, Information and Outreach Branch and must adhere to the established official working hours five days per week with one hour for lunch break. Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual's background; the intern's assigned Branch within UNODA as well as the internship period. Interns shall undertake the following duties which may include, but are not limited to: • Assistance in drafting and preparing official documents, summaries, talking points, speeches, remarks and web content. • Document, media and internet research. • Assistance during conferences and meetings.

Apply Here

Internship - Regional Bureau for Arab States New York and Regional Hub in Amman

Application Deadline: 22 February 2024
Location: New York

The Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) serves as the headquarters for UNDP regional programme and country programmes in 17 countries in the region. The Bureau proactively engages with internal units and external partners/stakeholders such as the UN Secretariat, the Permanent Missions, donors and the Executive Board, to discuss and facilitate the work of UNDP in the region. The Regional Bureau conducts strategic analysis and monitors development trends to inform the  forward-looking directions of the bureau and to support policies and programmes at regional, and country level in alignment with the SDGs, the UNDP Strategic Plan 2022-2025, and the RBAS Regional Programme Document 2022-2025.  The Regional Bureau conducts strategic oversight of the regional and country programmes, and focuses on positioning and programmatic and operational oversight to enhance country office, sub-regional and regional programming results and performance. It develops and implements partnership strategies for the region in addition to shaping the definition and implementation of the regional communications strategy and advocacy, as a means of positioning development issues and UNDP as a trusted development partner across the region.

RBAS is establishing a roster from which to pool qualified interns during the course of the year for a maximum period of 6 months, subject to the needs of the following Teams in New York and Amman.

Apply Here

Programme Management Intern: Supporting programme management and policy matters related to counter-terrorism and prevention of violent extremism

Application Deadline: 22 February 2024
Location: New York

This internship is located in the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) at United Nations Headquarters in New York. This internship is UNPAID and is designed to be in person and full-time (35 hours per week). It can be adapted for remote and/or part-time (20 hours per week) upon request. A full-time internship is for an initial period of two months and a part-time internship is for an initial of four months. Internships may be extended up to maximum six months depending on the needs of the Division. The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) was established by the General Assembly in June 2017. The Office has five main functions: (a) provide leadership on the General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates across the United Nations System; (b) enhance coordination and coherence across the 45 Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force entities to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the UN Global CounterTerrorism Strategy; (c) strengthen the delivery of UN counter-terrorism capacity building assistance to Member States; (d) improve visibility, advocacy and resource mobilization for UN counterterrorism efforts; and (e) ensure that due priority is given to counter-terrorism across the UN System and that the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the UN Global Strategy.

Apply Here

Political Affairs Intern - Prevention and response to CRSV
Application Deadline: 29 February 2024
Location: New York

This internship is located in the Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Team in the Policy and Best Practices Service (PBPS), Division of Policy, Evaluation and Training (DEPT) in the Department of Peace Operations (DPO).The Policy, Evaluation and Training Division (DPET) is mandated to develop and disseminate the policy and doctrine guiding the work of Peacekeeping Operations. In addition, the division has the responsibility to evaluate, at the request of the heads of the departments, how those policies are being applied, gather lessons learned and best practices, and use that information to guide the development, coordination and delivery of standardized training, so as to complete the learning cycle. DPET is also responsible for developing and maintaining strategic cooperation with various UN and external partners. Assist in conducting research on issues related to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence • Conduct Social media monitoring on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Peacekeeping settings • Monitor and report on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence developments at global level • Note taking, analysis and reporting on relevant events (mandate renewals, country specific discussions, etc.) • Support to event planning- online and in-person • Contribute to social media materials on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence for awareness raising • Support to training development and delivery • Assist in the review of various policies, papers and other documents/materials as they relate the to the team • Assist in preparing reports, concept papers, policy documents, talking points, articles and other materials related to the work of the team • Attend and support taking notes at conferences and meetings as required • Assist in editing, content creation, design and layout for (digital) learning products or translation.

Apply Here

PAID UNICEF'S Leading Minds Fellowship
Application Deadline: 1 March 2024

Are you aged 15-25? We are not just looking for participants; we are seeking architects of the future – young individuals eager to mold insights into action and discourse into lasting change. Through the Fellowship, participants will have the opportunity to steer the agenda of UNICEF’s Leading Minds conference 2024 focused on Climate Breakthroughs, a future-informed conference series and premier platform for global thought leadership, co-created by and co-driven with young people. 

Apply Here

Internship Opportunity with the Partnerships, Policy and Communications Unit (UNCDF)

Application Deadline: 30 March 2024
Location: New York

UNCDF is seeking an intern to be part of the Partnerships, Policy and Communications Unit (PPC) in its Headquarters located in New York, United States. Working under the guidance and supervision of the Head of PPC, and working closely with PPC staff, the intern will support the ongoing workplan and goals of the unit, including but not limited to expanding partnerships; preparing policy briefs for high level meetings; supporting the launch of major initiatives on blended finance and enterprises in Africa; and building and maintaining a base of knowledge about Member States.
Summary of Key Functions: 1) Support to Strategic advocacy and partnership development; 2) Support for creation of new innovative finance vehicles and instruments; 3) Support to mobilization of core and non-core resources; 4) Support to effective Internal and External Donor Relations; 5) Support to facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

Apply Here
PAID Doctors Without Borders Internship Scheme 
Application Deadline: 31 May 2024
Location: New York

MSF offers an internship program through the New York office that takes place three times a year. Interns are paid an hourly salary and can apply to work in a variety of positions, including advocacy, marketing and multimedia, finance, access campaigns, research, and more. Interns must be eligible to work in the US without sponsorship and are responsible for obtaining their own accommodation.

Apply Here

Follow the IO/UNS Specialization on
CampusGroups,
 Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp.

Feel free to reach out to us:
Daniel Naujoks, IO/UNS Director, daniel.naujoks@columbia.edu

You can book office hours here.

Laura Mercado, IO/UNS Coordinator, ld3071@sipa.columbia.edu
Amy Younger, Program Assistant, ay2564@columbia.edu
Akmaral Bekbossynova, Program Assistant, ab5420@columbia.edu

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